UC-Berkeley “augments” its study abroad model

“Most of our graduates are going to be operating in a world in which they will have to interrelate with people who are not working in the United States,” Breslauer [Executive Vice Chancellor] said. “Our research has to be into global problems and has to focus on collaboration.” Hard to quibble with this statement at this point in the 21st century.

But I’m convinced that campuses with elaborate and well-funded inter-institutional partnerships with overseas universities are missing or ignoring – or both – the point of efforts like this to expand their internationalization policies and practices.

My current research for a new publication on campuses best practices regarding integrating both study abroad and career advising paints a picture of overworked and understaffed offices tasked with a myriad of complex tasks in managing study abroad programs. There needs to be a deeper evaluation of how models like this one from Berkeley and the other campuses cited, effectively equip students to evaluate the impact of their international experiences – both in the classroom and in terms of their career aspirations and job searches.

It’s not only about opening the door wider to international experiences, but it’s also about what happens to students after they walk through…